Voice dictation-transcription station

ABSTRACT

A voice dictation-transcription system in which a plurality of voice transmitting stations are located in positions relatively remote from the position of a central unit to which all of the plurality of transmitting stations are operatively connected so that the mode of operation of the central unit may be controlled from any transmitting station for the recording of information on a recording medium at the central unit. Each transmitting station provides a control voltage by which a disabling means and an indicating means are operated when the central unit is being operated from another transmitting station. In addition, each transmitting station provides a plurality of operating voltages from the control voltage for controlling the mode of operation of the central unit, preventing the operation of the central unit by another transmitting station, and indicating at other transmitting stations that the central unit is in operation.

United States Patent Primary Examiner- Harold l. Pitts Arlorney-Jones and Thomas ABSTRACT: A voice dictation-transcription system in which a plurality of voice transmitting stations are located in positions relatively remote from the position of a central unit to which all of the plurality of transmitting stations are operatively connected so that the mode ofoperation of the central unit may be controlled from any transmitting station for the recording of information on a recording medium at the central unit. Each transmitting station provides a control voltage by which a disabling means and an indicating means are operated when the central unit is being operated from another trans mitting station. in a .dition, each transmitting station provides a plurality of operating voltages from the control voltage for controlling the mode of operation of the centralunit, preventing the operation of the central unit by another transmitting station, and indicating at other transmitting stations that the central unit is in operation.

VOICE DICTATION-TRANSCRIP'I'ION STATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a voice dictation-transcription system in which the mode of operation of a central unit at which information is recorded on a recording medium is selectively controlled from the recording stations and more particularly, to a voice dictation-transcription system that in cludes a recording station for transmitting a voice to a central unit for recording and in which a control voltage is provided and is used for operating a disabling means and an indicating means at the recording station and for providing a plurality of operating voltages that control the mode of operation of a central unit, prevent the operation of the central unit from another recording station, and providea busy indication at another recording station.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART A recording station for use in a dictation-transcription system having a plurality of recording stations operatively connected to a central unit at which information is recorded on a recording medium is well known in the prior art. A requirement of such a recording station has generally been that it provide a plurality of operating voltages from a control voltage so as to accomplish the control functions of controlling the mode of operation of the central unit, preventing the operation of the central unit from other recording stations, and indicating at other recording stations that the central unit is in operation. The same control voltage from which the recording station provides a plurality of operating voltages is also used at the recording station to operate a disabling means and an indicating means. The disabling means prevents the operation of the central unit from the recording station and the indicating means provides a busy indication at the recording station when the central unit is being operated from another recording station.

In a prior art recording station of the type generaly described above, the control voltage which provides a plurality of operating voltages and which is used to operate a disabling means and an indicating means is generally a single control voltage provided at the central unit and simultaneously supplied to all of the plurality of recording stations in the dictation-transcription system. Thus, the control voltage available at a prior art recording station is dependent upon the number of recording stations in a dictation-transcription system and the distances of the recording stations from the central unit and a problem which is frequently encountered with a prior art recording station is that the control voltage is inadequate to provide for the reliable control of the mode of operation of a central unit from the recording station or for the reliable operation of a disabling means and an indicating means at the recording station if the number of recording stations and the distances of the recording stations from the central unit in the dictation-transcription system are not severely restricted in order to limit voltage losses between the recording stations and the central unit. This problem cannot be avoided by increasing the control voltage since an excessively high voltage at any point between a central unit and a recording statiori is hazardous.

A further problem which is frequently encountered with a prior art recording station of the type generally described above is the relatively large number of wires required between the recording station and the central unit in order to provide for the operation of a disabling means and of an indicating means at the recording station and for the plurality of operatin voltages required to accomplish control functions. The relatively large number of wires between the recording station and the central unit substantially increases the cost and the difficulty of installation associated with a dictation-transcription system having a plurality of recording stations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention disclosed herein is a voice dictation-transcription system having a recording station which avoids the foregoing and other problems encountered in the prior art in that it is a recording station which serves as a voice transmitting station and in which the control voltage that operates a disabling means and an indicating means at the recording station and that provides a plurality of operating voltages for controlling the mode of operation of a central unit, disabling other recording stations, and indicating at other recording stations that the central unit is in operation is provided at the recording station rather than at the central unit. Specifically, the invention includes a recording station having circuit means for connecting the recording station to a central unit, voltage means independent of the circuit means for providing a control voltage at the recording station, selecting means for selecting each of a plurality of operating voltages from the control voltage, control means for operatively connecting the selecting means and each of the plurality of operating voltages to the circuit means, disabling means for preventing the operation of the control means when the central unit is in operation from another recording station. and indicating means for indicating at the recording station when the central unit is in operation from another recording station. The disabling means and the indicating means of the recording station are both operated by the control voltage in response to a signal voltage.

The operation of both the disabling means and the indicating means by the control voltage in response to a signal voltage is achieved by applying the control voltage to the disabling means and the indicating means through a switching means which is operatively responsive to the signal voltage. The control voltage that operates the disabling means and the indicating means is provided at the recording station and the signal voltage may be relatively low in potential. It is because of this that the invention provides a voice dictation-transcription system in which the reliable operation of a disabling means and of an indicating means at a recording station is not substantially impaired by the number of recording stations which are used with a central unit in the dictation-transcription system and by the distances of the recording stations from the central unit. Moreover, since the control voltage from which the selecting means selects operating voltages is provided at the recording station, the invention provides a voice dictationtranscription system in which reliable control of the mode of operation of a central unit is achieved in spite of the number of recording stations in the dictation-transcription system and their distances from the central unit.

The signal voltage to which the switching means is responsive is applied to the recording station over the same wires that are used for applying the plurality of operating voltages selected by the selecting means to the central unit. Moreover, these same wires may be used for transmitting and receiving the information recorded on a recording medium at the central unit. As a result, only two wires are required for connecting the recording station to a central unit. Thus, the invention provides a voice dictation-transcription system in which only a minimum number of wires connect a recording station to a central unit and which for this reason is relatively inexpensive and easy to install even when the dictation-transcription system has a plurality of recording stations connected to the central unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING These and other features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing in which the FIGURE is a schematic circuit diagram of an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRlPTlON OF AN EMBODIMENT This FIGURE and the following detailed description disclose a specific embodiment of the invention. However, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other equivalent forms without departing from the scope of the invention.

The invention disclosed is a voice dictation-transcription system including a recording station generally designated by the dashed line box 10 in the FIGURE. The recording station to is operatively connected by a circuit means such as the wires A and B to a central unit It having a plurality of modes of operation by which the recording of information on a recording medium is provided. The central unit ll may be any conventional central unit which is responsive to a plurality of operating voltages between the wires A and B and it is for this reason that the central unit ll is not shown or described in detail.

It is because the physical components of a recording station 10 such as a cradle and a handset are well known to those skilled in the art, that the recording station 10 is shown only as a schematic circuit diagram in the FIGURE. When the FlGURE is examined, it will be seen that the recording station 10 includes a conventional single phase diamond rectifier 12 to which an alternating current voltage V1 is applied through a transformer T. The transformer T and the rectifier 12 are selected in conventional manner so that when the voltage Vl is approximately 1 I volts AC, the rectified output voltage V2 across a smoothing condenser Cl is approximately 30 volts DC. It will be understood that the voltage V1 is provided from any convenient source of alternating current voltage such as an electrical wall outlet.

The voltage V2 is in series with a plurality of resistors R1, R2, R3, R4, R and R6 which serve to provide an operating voltage Pl between the resistors R2 and R3, an operating voltage P2 between the resistors R3 and R4, an operating voltage P3 between the resistors R4 and R5, and an operating voltage P4 between the resistor R5 and R6. Thus, the rectifier 12 serves as a voltage means for providing a control voltage V2 and the resistors R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 serve to divide the control voltage V2 into a plurality of operating voltages P1, P2, P3, and P4 within the recording station 10.

The operating voltages P1, P2, P3, and P4 progressively decrease in potential relative to ground G to which the wire B is also connected. The operating voltages P2, P3, and P4 are connected to the wire A through a switch member 51, a conductor 13, contacts L1, and a conductor 16. The operating voltage Pl is connected to the wire A through a resistor R7, the conductor l3, the contacts L1, and the conductor [6. When the recording station it) is not in use, the contacts Ll are held open by a mechanical force F but are urged toward a closed position by a spring member 14.

it will now be understood that the switch member 51 serves as a selecting means for selecting each of the plurality of operating voltages Pl, P2, P3, or P4 and that the operating voltages P2, P3, and P4 as actually applied to the conductor II! by the switch member SI are the voltages which result from placing the resistors R3, R4, and R5 selectively in parallel with the resistor R7. It will now also be understood that the contacts Ll serve as a control means for operatively connecting the switch member SI and the plurality of operating voltages P1, P2, P3, or P4 to the wires A and 8. Moreover, with the contacts Ll closed, the manipulation of the switch member S1 will provide for control of the mode of operation ofthe central unit ll by selecting which of the plurality of operating voltages Pl, P2, P3 or P4 is applied to the wires A and B.

In parallel with the resistors R2, R3, R4. R5 and R6 across the control voltage V2 is a transistor TS. The collector TC of the transistor T5 is connected to the wire B and ground 0 through a coil L in parallel with a lamp 15 and the emitter TE of the transistor TS is connected to a point 0 between the resistors R1 and R2. The point 0 is also connected to ground G through a Zener diode 2.

In the absence of substantial current flow through the transistor TS, the voltage between the collector TC and the emitter TE of the transistor TS is substantially the control voltage V2 reduced by the voltage drop across the resistor R1 and maintained substantially constant by the Zener diode Z in conventional manner. The resistor R1 is selected in conventional manner so that in the absence of the required biasing voltage at the base TB of the transistor TS, there is no current flow between the collector TC and the emitter TE of the transistor T5.

The base TB of the transistor TS is connected through the connector 16 to the wire A and through the contacts Ll and the connector [3 to the switch member S1. Thus, the biasing voltage at the base TB of the transistor TS necessary for current flow between the collector TC and the emitter TB of the transistor T5 may be applied from either the wire A or the switch member 81. However, for the biasing voltage to be applied at the base TB of the transistor TS from the switch member Sl it is necessary that the contacts Ll be closed.

As indicated above, the contacts L] are held open by a mechanical force F when the recording station l0 is not in use. In addition, the contacts Ll are responsive to the energizing of the coil L so that when the coil L is energized, the contacts Ll cannot be closed by the spring 14 even though the mechanical force F is removed. However, the energizing of the coil L cannot open the contacts Ll if the contacts L1 are already closed as a result of the removal of the mechanical force F.

It will now be understood that the contacts Ll and the coil L are components of a conventional relay in which the energizing of the coil L does not open the contacts Ll but does maintain the contacts Ll open if the contacts L1 are open when the coil L is energized. In addition, the contacts Ll are opened by the application of a mechanical force F and are closed by the removal of the mechanical force F if the coil L is not energized.

Once the relationship of the contacts Ll, the coil L, and the mechanical force F is understood, it will also be understood that an operating voltage P1, P2, P3, or P4 determined by the position of the switch member S1 is applied to the base TB of the transistor TS when the contacts Ll close as a result of the removal of the mechanical force F if the coil L is not energized. The application of an operating voltage P1, P2, P3, or P4 to the base TB of the transistor TS causes current to flow between the collector TC and the emitter TE of the transistor TS and through the coil L and the lamp 15.

The flow of current through the lamp 15 provides a busy indication at the recording station 10. However, since the energizing of the coil L does not cause the contacts L1 to open if the contacts Ll are already closed, the flow of current through the coil L as a result of the application of an operating voltage Pl, P2, P3, or P4 to the base TB of the transistor TS does not change the position of the contacts L1 and the contacts Ll remain closed until a mechanical force F is applied. Thus, an operating voltage P1, P2, P3, or P4 is applied to the wires A and B and to the central unit 11.

When the contacts Ll are being held open by a mechanical force F, the application of a voltage at the base TB from the wire A causes current to flow between the collector TC and the emitter TE of the transistor TS so that the lamp l5 and the coil L are both energized even though the contacts Ll are open. Moreover, when the mechanical force F is subsequently removed from the contacts Ll, the contacts Ll do not close because the energizing of the coil L is sulficient to prevent the contacts Ll from closing. Thus, the application of a voltage at the base TB of the transistor TS from the wire A when the mechanical force F is holding the contacts Ll open serves to prevent the contacts L1 from closing and to prevent the application of an operating voltage Pl, P2, P3, or P4 to the wire A and to the central unit I].

When the central unit ll is operated from a plurality of recording stations 10' and 10 in addition to the recording station 10, the wire A is connected to the wire A and to the wire A" and the wire B is connected to the wire B and to the wire B" ofthe recording stations 10' and 10" respectively and the voltage applied to the base TB of the transistor TS from the wire A is conveniently a signal voltage such as an operating voltage Pl, P2, P3, or P4 from another recording station 10' or 10''. With this circuit arrangement, the placing in operation of a recording station 10' or 10" serves to prevent the closing of the contacts L1 and to prevent the recording station 10 from applying one of the plurality of operating voltages Pl, P2, P3, or P4 to the central unit ll.

lt will now be understood that the transistor TS and the coil L serve as a disabling means for disabling the recording station 10 when the central unit II is being operated from a recording station 10' or 10''. In addition, it will be understood that the transistor TS and the lamp l5 serve as an indicating means for providing a busy indication at the recording station 10 when the central unit 11 is being operated by a recording station 10 or 10''.

OPERATION The invention disclosed herein will be further understood by considering the operation of a recording station to as a voice transmitting station in a voice dictation-transcription system including a central unit I] and a plurality of recording stations such as the recording stations l0, l and 10'. In the operation of the recording station 10, the mechanical force F is generally provided by a handset (not shown) resting in a cradle (not shown).

Thus, the application of the mechanical force F to the contacts Ll corresponds to an inoperative condition of the recording station 10 in which a handset (not shown) is resting in a cradle (not shown). Similarly, the removal of the mechanical force F from the contacts Ll corresponds to an operative condition or to an attempted use condition of the recording station 10 in which the handset (not shown) is removed from the cradle (not shown).

With the recording station 10 in its inoperative condition in which the contacts L] are being held open by the mechanical force F, the operating voltages P1, P2, P3, and P4 cannot be applied to the wires A and B and to the central unit I]. However, a signal voltage of appropriate potential on the wire A from the central unit I] or a recording station 10' or III" causes the lamp l and the coil L to be energized.

in the absence ofa signal voltage on the wire A, the removal of the mechanical force F places the recording station in its operative condition. With a signal voltage on the wire A, the removal of the mechanical force F places the recording station 10 in its attempted use condition.

When the recording station 10 is in its operative condition, the contacts L! are closed because the coil L was not energized when the mechanical force F was removed and the plurality of operating voltages P1, P2, P3, and P4 are operatively connected to the wires A and B and to the central unit 11 for controlling the mode of operation of the central unit II. In addition, the operating voltages P1, P2, P3, and P4 serve to provide a signal voltage for the recording stations [0' and 10" which causes a disabling means and an indicating means to be operative at each of the recording stations 10' and 10''.

in connection with the operating voltages P1, P2, P3, and P4 serving as a signal voltage, it should be understood that any of the operating voltages P1, P2, P3, or P4 is an appropriate biasing voltage for the transistor TS in a recording station 10, 10' or 10'', and that the operating voltage Pl provides a biasing voltage as the switch member 81 is switching from one operating voltage P1, P2, P3 or P4 to another. Moreover, in connection with the operating voltages Pl, P2, P3, and P4, it should also be understood that an audio frequency voltage component may be superimposed on an operating voltage Pl, P2, P3, or P4.

Thus, a conventional audio transmitter unit K is conveniently placed between the switch member SI and the operating voltage P4 to provide for the recording of information on a recording medium at the central unit II when the contacts L1 are closed and the operating voltage P4 is being applied the central unit ll. Similarly, a conventional audio receiver unit N is conveniently placed in series with a capacitor C2 between the connector 13 and ground 0" to provide for the listening to information on a recording medium at the central unit II when the contacts Ll are closed and the central unit I l is in the appropriate mode of operation.

When the recording station 10 is in its attempted use condition, the contacts L] are open because the coil L was energized when the mechanical force F was removed and the plurality of operating voltages P1, P2, P3, and P4 cannot be applied to the central unit ll. In addition, the lamp 1! is energized indicating that the central unit 11 is in operation from another recording station 10' or 10''. Moreover, the transmitter unit K and the receiver unit N are not connected to the central unit ll.

From the foregoing description of an embodiment of the invention disclosed herein and its operation, it will now be understood that the invention provides a voice dictation-trans cription system in which a disabling means such as the coil L and an indicating means such as the lamp 15 are both operated by a control voltage V2 provided at the recording station 10. in addition, it will be understood that substantially no flow of current is required in the wire A to cause the energizing of the coil L or the lamp 15 by the control voltage V2 in response to a signal voltage provided from a source such as another recording station N) or I0".

It is because substantially no flow of current is required in the wire A and because the control voltage V2 is provided by the recording station 10 rather than by the central unit 11 that the recording station 10 provides a disabling means such as the coil L and an indicating means such as the lamp 15 which are reliable in operation regardless of the number of recording stations 10, 10 and 10" used with a central unit It in a dictation-transcription system and regardless of the distances of the recording stations [0, 10' and [0" from the central unit ll. Moreover, as indicated in the figure, the use of a control voltage V2 at the recording station 10 for the energizing of the coil L and the lamp is and for providing a plurality of operating voltages P1, P2, P3, or P4 provides a recording station 10 which requires only two wires A and B between the recording station 10 and the central unit 11. Thus, the voice dictationtranscription system having a plurality of recording stations l0, l0 and It)" operatively connected to a central unit ll is relatively inexpensive and easy to install.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiments chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a voice dictation-transcription system in which recording on a recording medium in a central unit is provided by a mode of operation of said central unit, a voice transmitting station remote from said central unit, and circuit means for operatively connecting said transmitting station to said central unit, said mode of operation of said central unit being in response to one of a plurality of operating voltages when said one of a plurality of operating voltages is operatively connected to said circuit means, and said transmitting station including voltage means at said transmitting station independent of said circuit means and of said central unit for providing a control voltage at said transmitting station, selecting means at said transmitting station for providing each of said plurality of operating voltages from said control voltage, and control means at said transmitting station for operatively connecting said each of said plurality of operating voltages to said circuit means.

2. The voice dictation-transcription system of claim 1 in which said circuit means selectively provides a signal voltage to said transmitting station and in which said control means is rendered inoperative by said signal voltage to connect said each of said plurality of operating voltages to said circuit means.

3. The voice dictation-transcription system of claim 1 in which a second voice transmitting station is operatively connected to said central unit by said circuit means and is rendered inoperative to control said central unit in response to said each of said plurality of operating voltages being connected to said circuit means by said control means.

4. The voice dictation-transcription system of claim 2 in which said circuit means provides said signal voltage from a second voice transmitting station when said second voice transmitting station is providing an operating voltage to said central unit.

5. The voice dictation-transcription system of claim 2 including disabling means responsive to said signal voltage for rendering said control means inoperative.

6. The voice dictation-transcription system of claim 5 in which said control means is selectively responsive to said disabling means so as to be rendered inoperative only in response to both a mechanical force and said disabling means.

7. The voice dictation-transcription system of claim 6 in which the removal of said mechanical force renders said control means operative when said disablingmeans is inoperative.

8. The voice dictation-transcription system of claim 5 in which said disabling means is operated by said control voltage.

9. The voice dictation-transcription system of claim 8 in cluding an indicating means responsive to said signal voltage for providing an indication of the presence of said signal voltage at said transmitting station.

10. The voice dictation-transcription system of claim 9 in which said indicating means is operated by said control voltage. 

1. In a voice dictation-transcription system in which recording on a recording medium in a central unit is provided by a mode of operation of said central unit, a voice transmitting station remote from said central unit, and circuit means for operatively connecting said transmitting station to said central unit, said mode of operation of said central unit being in response to one of a plurality of operating voltages when said one of a plurality of operating voltages is operatively connected to said circuit means, and said transmitting station including voltage means at said transmitting station independent of said circuit means and of said central unit for providing a control voltage at said transmitting station, selecting means at said transmitting station for providing each of said plurality of operating voltages from said control voltage, and control means at said transmitting station for operatively connecting said each of said plurality of operating voltages to said circuit means.
 2. The voice dictation-transcription system of claim 1 in which said circuit means selectively provides a signal voltage to said transmitting station and in which said control means is rendered inoperative by said signal voltage to connect said each of said plurality of operating voltages to said circuit means.
 3. The voice dictation-transcription system of claim 1 in which a second voice transmitting station is operatively connected to said central unit by said circuit means and is rendered inoperative to control said central unit in response to said each of said plurality of operating voltages being connected to said circuit means by said control means.
 4. The voice dictation-transcription system of claim 2 in which said circuit means provides said signal voltage from a second voice transmitting station when said second voice transmitting station is providing an operating voltage to said central unit.
 5. The voice dictation-transcription system of claim 2 including disabling means responsive to said signal voltage for rendering said control means inoperative.
 6. The voice dictation-transcription system of claim 5 in which said control means is selectively responsive to said disabling means so as to be rendered inoperative only in response to both a mechanical force and said disabling means.
 7. The voice dictatioN-transcription system of claim 6 in which the removal of said mechanical force renders said control means operative when said disabling means is inoperative.
 8. The voice dictation-transcription system of claim 5 in which said disabling means is operated by said control voltage.
 9. The voice dictation-transcription system of claim 8 including an indicating means responsive to said signal voltage for providing an indication of the presence of said signal voltage at said transmitting station.
 10. The voice dictation-transcription system of claim 9 in which said indicating means is operated by said control voltage. 